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Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations Take Place in Kuala Lumpur12/07/2011 - 9:47am

The 10th round of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations are currently taking place in Kuala Lumpur. Negotiators from the nine TPP member countries – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam – traveled to Malaysia over the weekend to continue their work intended to create an agreement that tackles conventional trade concerns in new ways, deals with cross-cutting issues not previously addressed in trade agreements, and tackles emerging trade challenges. This agreement will benefit from an unprecedented level of input throughout the process from stakeholders with a wide array of views on the full range of issues under negotiation.

Over the course of this week, negotiators will meet on the following issues: cross-border trade in services, investment, intellectual property rights, and rules of origin. Negotiators will also meet bilaterally on market access issues.

On November 12, 2011, the Leaders of the nine TPP countries announced the achievement of the broad outlines of an ambitious, 21st-century agreement that will enhance trade and investment among the TPP partner countries, promote innovation, economic growth and development, and support the creation and retention of jobs. In 2009, the East-West Center estimated that Asia already accounted for 27 percent of total U.S. jobs from exports. The International Monetary Fund also forecasts that the Asia-Pacific economies will grow faster than the world average through at least 2014. Expanding U.S. exports to the Asia-Pacific region can contribute significantly to further job growth and economic recovery for America’s working families.

MALAYSIA – The United States and its TPP partners – Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam – concluded the tenth round of negotiations today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia today, making additional strides on the path toward conclusion of a comprehensive, next-generation trade agreement. Through this agreement, the United States is seeking to boost U.S. economic growth and support the creation and retention of high-quality jobs by increasing American exports to a region that holds great potential for U.S. workers, manufacturers, farmers, and ranchers.

The nine teams convened in Malaysia following the successful meeting of TPP Leaders in Honolulu in mid-November, at which they announced the achievement of the broad outlines of an agreement and directed negotiators to redouble their efforts to conclude the agreement. Only selected negotiating groups met this week for the mini-round, including rules of origin, services, investment, and intellectual property. Some teams negotiating the tariff packages on industrial goods, agricultural and textiles also met bilaterally. All made further progress in narrowing gaps on issues in the legal texts and market access packages they are seeking to develop.

In addition, chief negotiators met to discuss a roadmap ahead for concluding the agreement expeditiously, as discussed by their Leaders. They are developing detailed plans for concluding work in each of the more than 20 negotiating groups, including goalposts for progress, intersessional activities, and other steps as needed. The environment group will meet in late January; other negotiating groups are considering additional dates in the coming months. The United States will meet bilaterally in the next two months with some TPP partners to make further progress on the legal texts and tariff packages ahead of the next full negotiating round in early March in Australia.